Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Bargain : Kabanata 221 - Kabanata 230

“I have been watching you. You seemed bored to death.” Chloe said, leaning beside the cane chair Racheal was sitting, under the shade of a tree.“Well. I could just be tired,” Racheal said. “I didn't know you were here.”Jade, who was seated not very far from Racheal, glanced at them, and looked away.“I arrived this morning. Your friend does not like me,” Chloe said.“I wouldn’t too if you touched her inappropriately with a knife to her throat,” Racheal responded. She regretted not having just gone to that private pool beneath her suite. What was the use of networking with people who she did not necessarily like?People who have since lost interest in her when they noticed how quiet she was. They probably thought she was snobbish.“Walk with me.” Chloe said. Racheal frowned up at her.“We will be in public view,” Chloe said reassuringly. Racheal sighed and stood up, and they began to take a walk.“You saw Roman Gilbert?” She asked.Racheal nodded, thinking about the man and the wa

Ten, nine, eight,Racheal turned around to see everyone was staring at the large screen on the stage that was now counting down to 00:00, Alvaro and Jade’s birthday.Alvaro finally let her go, and Racheal turned to Jade smiling. Jade pulled her in a side hug as they screamed,four, three, two, oneThe sounds of fireworks outside were loud. Racheal heard people gasp. She turned to the side to see the blinds to one side had been drawn to reveal a glass wall. The guests hurried to it like children, to watch the beautiful fireworks. “Happy Birthday.” She said, hugging Jade tight.“Thank you.” Jade was grinning, and they turned to watch the fireworks again, side by side. The sky was bursting with colors, and the sounds came blasting again and again.Finally, Racheal heard a singing group approaching them.Cumpleanos FelizCumpleanos FelizTe deseamos todosCumpleanos FelizRachel giggled as she joined the guests to sing the popular happy birthday song in spanish. Jade hurried away to

Racheal quickly wiped her eyes, and took Skylar’s hand. “Come.”People were already beginning to stare at them. Both women walked back to the couch she had left. Racheal picked up her book, and moved it closer to herself.“I have never liked the idea of what Steffan had to do. Even our mother does not like it. But it’s father’s business and Steffan has always been eager to please him and prove himself.” Skylar said, after a few minutes of quietly sitting with her.Racheal watched her sister-in-law quietly.She could understand why Steffan did that in the past. He told her himself that he felt indebted to his father after he helped him with Malorie's case. But that should be different now, now that he knows the truth.“So you knew too?" Racheal found herself staring at Skylar angrily for the first time since they met.Skylar turned to her “I tried to tell you many times.” Racheal looked away. She had no cause to be mad at Skylar. She was not the one at fault. It was all Steffan,

The party of fifty drank, some guests stood up to dance, and Racheal clapped and giggled, enjoying the entertainment they provided on her last day here. Jade spent her time talking with Axel, so Racheal was forced to speak with Alvaro more than she would have liked.“What have you done for fun since you came to Yin?” He asked suddenly.Have sex with Steffan, she was tempted to say, but she shook her head. “I cannot think of anything. Yin is more work than fun for me.” She said.“I see.” He said, and she wondered if he truly did. She played a game with death every day she spent in Yin. A few times, she had come close to losing.She took a swing from her wine glass to drown out the thoughts. When she looked up, Alvaro was watching her.“You fascinate me. You are more than the quiet woman image you portray,” he said.“How?” She giggled.“Drinking, for example. You take it better than I would have thought.” She smiled and looked away. Was that a compliment. What did heavy drinkers lo

Racheal turned her attention to Alvaro, who seemed so taken with his lust that he could not hear the door. She bit his arm. He cursed, grabbed her face and knocked her head against the wooden headboard.She literally saw light explode before her eyes, and she began to feel slow and lethargic. Alvaro grabbed her hips, and pulled her body against his. Even her punches against his chest were lighter now.He was prying apart her knees that she still managed to stubbornly press together, when she heard a gunshot, and a loud thud of the door hitting the wall behind.And then Alvaro disappeared.She relaxed because she knew Steffan was finally here. She could hear the sound of rolling punches as she struggled off the bed. Her head hurt so badly she could barely see. She felt someone behind and turned around in fear.Isaac. He forcefully yanked the blanket off the bed, and draped it over her shoulder where she squatted beside the bed.She finally focused her attention on Steffan. She